Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1887-07-09
letter from New Mexico.


Correspondence of,hc Alexandria Gazette.l
GOLDEN, n. M June 2S, 1SS7-I would
like TO cali the attention of those Virginians
who. for reasons satisfactory to themselves
contemplate moving West, to the attrac
tions and advantages of the beautiful Rio
Grande Valley, in New Mexico. 70 my
mind il Is a question OF considerable doubt
whether the fertile wheat lands OF Dakota
and the other Northern territories wonld
ever reconcile or compensate Virginians Tor
the abominabe winters and everlasting
winds they would be compelled TO endure
liz those northern regions. 1t always seem
ed to NE that those localities were better
suited for Norwegians, Danes, Swedes and
the other nationalities of Northern Europe,
by which the Northwestern States and ter
rtories are so largely peopled, than they are
for Americans.
want TO say !. word concerning New
Mexico. | have lived here a year and
know what ] am talking about. will refer
to its climatic and material advantages. In
the first place New Mexico has the mldest
and most equaDle climate in America At
this point we are 5000 feet above the sea,
consequently we have no extremes of high
temperature. The summers are cool and
pleasant The moment the sun sinks be.
hind the western range fires become a lux
ury, even in July and August, while pair
OF blankets are necessary at night all
through the summer. The past winter was
a constant succession of mild, bright, sunny
days, for although the elevation Is so high
in this part of the Rocky Mountain region,
vet the Southern latitude of New Mexico
| tempers the severity of its winters. Reports
this spring from the more northern terrific
ries relative TO the loss of cattle, give otli-
cial statements OF forty and fifty per cent.
loss, while here in New Mexico the loss
among the cattle amounted the past winter
10 three per cent
One of the most delightful occupations as
we'll as renumerative source Of income in
this territory is the grape industry in the
Rio Grande Valley. The vineyards there
are rapidly assuming large proportions and
will prove serious competitors to those OF
California There is no valid reason why the
wines of New Mexico should not acquire q
reputation equal to the vintages Of the
Danube and the Rhine. All sorts and kinds
OF fruits grow to perfection in this favored
locality, and this valley is destined 10 be.
come q great wine fruit centre. This valley
is also one of the few locations on the sur.
face Of the earth where the soil and climate,
are peculiarly adapted to the growing and
curing of the choicest raisins. A popularity
of the grapes grown in this valley is that they
contain at least 20 per cent. more sugar than
the same grapes grown in California, ana as
sugar is essential in the grape for the pro-
duction of first class raisin, we have it.
When we take into consideration the eX-
tremely limited extent of the earth's surface
where rasins can be produced, there would
be no doubt OF n continued good income
from a vineyard that it is figured will cost
in three years, when it comes in bearing for
twenty acres (paying $50 per acre. Sl,ll5,
and the third year from planting it should
produce about $4,000 pounds, which at the
rate grapes are now selling here, 5 cents per
pound at the vineyards for muscats, there
would he enough and more to pay the whole
outlay, and when the vineyard comes
! into lull bearing OF five to ten
tons TO ihe acre, there would be m
income thai would be big percentage on o
valuation of $1,000 per acre. A man with
one thousand dollars capital could come TO
she Rio Grande Valley with his family, and
purchasing 90 acres OF irrigated land at
| from $50 10 $50 per acre, set out ten OF 1t
in grapes. and easily support himself and
dependents on the other ten acres planted
in the small grains, vegetables, ETC., and by
the aid CT poultry and eggs. at the end Of
three years he would have o vineyard
worth $500 per acre, and capable Of produc.
| ing from five to seven thousand dollars
worth OF wine per annum, n sum sufficient
| to keep any family in luxury. | remarked
/ chat he could support his family on the
/ other ten acres till his vineyard came in
! bearing, and so he could. He could raise q
crop of corn and wheat from the same land
| the same year-wheat 40 bushels, worth 81
! cents. and corn 70 bushels, worth 20 cents
! He could readily raise %, 400 pounds of the
Ell Paso onion to the acre, worth , cents
per pound, or S44S, or . total income of be-
tween eight and nine hundred dollars. A
house suitable for this climate could be
erected for S75. | assume of course that the
man is able.bodied, and capable OF doing
the most of the work, with some knowledge
Of tools horse will cost him S15, and 8
! Studebaker wagon as much more. Besides
all this he will have the satisfaction o
knowing that he is located in the healthiest
climate in the world and among the grand
est and most sublime natural scenery il
America-pulmonary and malarial diseases
being unknown. Persons thinking of com
ing to New Mexico, should make Kansa;
City their objective point, and thence over
the Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe r. r..
which traverses the Rio Grande valley from
North to South. BoTELER.
Thousands Of women bless the day or
,,,b;ob Or Pierce's "Favorite Presentation